Bag and band stretcher



g- 9, 1956 R. M. ToMczAK ETAL 3,264,796

BAG AND BAND STRETCHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 6, 1963 g- 9, 1966R. M. TOMCZAK ETAL 3,264,796

BAG AND BAND STRETCHER 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 6, 1965 FIG.3

' 'wyyi fze 9, 1966 R. M. TOMCZAK ETAL 3,264,796

BAG AND BAND STRETGHER Filed March 6, 1963 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Aug. 9,1966 R. M. ToMczAK ETAL 3,264,796

' BAG AND BAND STRETCHER Filed March 6, 1963 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTORS.

RDMAN M. TOMCZAK dMfiAEL JIMILES BY 1 v.

ATTO EY United States Patent 3,264,796 BAG AND BAND STRETCHER Roman M.Tomczak, Willow Springs, and Michael J. Myles, Downers Grove, Ill.,assignors to Union Carbide Corporation, a corporation of New York FiledMar. 6, 1963, Ser. No. 263,340 16 Claims. (Cl. 53-261) This inventionrelates to the art of packaging items in bags, bands or sleeves offlexible film. More particularly this invention relates to an apparatuswhich is portable, rugged, and simple to adjust, safe and easilyoperable to package within flexible film bags or sleeves, a wide varietyof items of similar or varying shapes.

Many tood items such as meat food products, -fo-wl, poultry or fish, inthe whole, sliced or cut up state, have been packaged in flexible filmbags. The packaging by handing with bands or sleeves of flexible film,of fruit items such as loose or hands of bananas; and produce items suchas celery, asparagus and the like, is a relatively new art and requiresan economical, easily operable device to open the flexible band orsleeve for ready insertion of the item therein and easy removal of theenveloped item from the stretching passage.

It is becoming increasingly important economically, to

package produce such as onions, carrots, lettuce, etc. in

the fields where it is grown, by using field Ihands stationed on mobilerigs wherein the produce is picked, cleaned, bunched and banded.Exemplar of fruit packaging, it is desirable to collect stalks ofbananas at plantation stations where hands or clumps of bananas areselectively Out from the stalks, cleaned, and by the apparatus of thisinvention, packaged into flexible film sleeves. Also, a plurality ofsingle pieces of banana fruit may be assembled into a compact bunchwithin the 'walls of a jig of predetermined size and contour, and incombination with the apparatus of this invention, transferredinto anoverwrap sleeve of stretched elastic film. Thus, normally unsaleablcsingle bananas, can be upgraded into an attractive, saleable packageditem.

Such produce field and plantation packaging operations are conductedunder conditions where labor is cheap and unskilled and where powersources such as compressed air or electricity are not readily available.Preferably such operations require a simple, rugged band or sleevestretcher that may be operated manually and is readily portable formounting and dismounting at primitive work stations.

Prior art apparatus for stretching flexible bags or sleeves used powermeans such as pneumatic or hydraulically activated pressure cylinders,or motor-operated gear and rack motions that served to advance and re-.turn interchangeable projecting fingers comprising a stretching passage.Consequently, for the safety of operators manipulating the bags and fooditems onto and from the stretching passage, it was necessary that thereturn power stroke contracting the stretching passage, be accomplishedby means wherein the machine operator could not be harmed. Safetyrequired that prior art apparatus have relatively complicated springrelease or pressure relief means controlling the return stroke.Operation of such machines required accessory pressure regulating andcontnol means and a regular program of lubrication and maintenance.

It is an object of this invention to provide a packaging apparatus thatis portable, safe and simple to operate and adjust.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a packagingapparatus for enveloping unit items or groups of items in flexible filmbags, bands or sleeves, that permits readily opening the bag about afinger-formed 3,264,796 Patented August 9, 1966 passage, inserting theitems in the passage, contracting the passage and concomitantly removingthe items and enveloping film (from the passage.

Another object of this invention is to provide a portable, foot-operatedstretching apparatus for opening the Walls of elastic film bags, bandsor sleeves; having means to expand a passage comprised of parallelmounted interchangeable fingers, means to limit the passage expansion toa predetermined perimeter and means to contract the passage at apredetermined constant force.

Other and additional objects will become apparent from the followingdescription ofthe invention taken together with the accompanyingdrawings.

This invention enables an operator to readily sheath on to a contractedfinger-formed passage a flexible film bag or sleeve of a perimetersmaller than that of an item or items to be packaged; then to open byexpanding the passage and sleeve to a predetermined larger perimeter toreadily insert the items therein; and concomitantly contract the passageand remove the items and enveloping film overwrap from the fingers.

The invention is particularly adapted to flexible film bag, band orsleeve packaging of items where power means such as compressed air orelectricity is unavailable and labor is not costly. A wide variety ofitems such as meat foods, produce, fruits and the like may be readilyinserted in elastic film bags by the apparatus of this invention, toyield packaged articles wherein the items are tightly grasped by andsnugly conformed with the bags walls.

According to the present invention a flexible film bag or sleeve whosenormal unstretched perimeter is smaller than the perimeter of theitem(s) to be overwrapped is elastically, circumferentially stretchedalong its length by a manually expandable stretching passage to a largerperimeter than that of the item(s). The film sleeve is maintained insuch circumferentially stretched state while the items are insertedtherein in a preferred posit-ion, whereupon the stretching force isreleased and the stretching passage is retracted to release the sleeve,and permit the sleeve-overwrapped items to be removed from the partiallycontracted passage.

The stretching passage is comprised of interchangeable extended fingers,horizontally mounted on a fixed bead pedestal and a slide post of theapparatus of this invention. The finger means comprising the lowerportions of the stretching passage are fastened onto sockets formed asextensions of the base portions of the head pedestal and slide post. Thefinger means comprising the upper portion of the stretching passage arepreset to a predetermined vertical dimension by pin fastening thefingers into clamping brackets slidably adjustable on upright tongueportions extended from the bases of the head pedestal and slide post.

The slide post is slidably mounted on a horizontal, rigid strut memberthat has terminal portions adaptedto fasten and rigidly connect the headpedestal to a surface mounted tail pedestal. The slide post is movedalong the strut member distally from the head pedestal by means of afoot-operated treadle, cable and pulley arrangement. The foot treadle isfastened to an adjustable length connecting rod that is secured to oneend of a flexible rope or cable arranged to depend from a grooved pulleysheave mounted adjacent the front surface of the head pedestal. Theother end of the cable is passed about a sheave mounted in the tailpedestal and secured to the slide post. The means by which the cable isrigged about supplementary grooved sheaves mounted on the head pedestal,tail pedestal and slide post, may by appropriate choice, be varied toprovide a pulley tackle arrangement of a one-to-one, or a one-totwo, ora one-to-three power to stretching force ratio, to

thereby obtain a bag stretching force equalto or greater than the poweron the foot treadle.-

An additional feature of the apparatus isthe means for 1 providing adesired ratio of distal horizontal-movement of the stretchingfingers onthe slide' post, to the vertical foot treadle movement. Preselectedratios of one-to-one, one-to-two, one-to-three'or more of thezrope andsheave means are readily accommodated on the apparatus elements toprovide equivalent mechanical advantagein stretching force.

When the slide post is moved distally from theheadpede'stal, theperimeter of the finger-formedpassage: is, expanded. The distal motionof the slide post is arrested .1

for maximum travel at a predetermined expanded position by its abutmentwith anend bumper of an adjustable stop rod mounted on the tailpedestal.

A constant-force coil spring fastened on to the; head pedestal has itsfree end secured to the slideipost. Tension:

is exertedbetween the head pedestalzand the slide post by the connectingconstant-force spring, urging the slide post to return, therebycontracting .theqfinger-formed passage to its fully retracted (proximal)position when .the treadle pressure is-released. Thus another importantfeature of .the invention is the means providing a predetermined uniformcontracting force to return .the slide postto the head pedestal, at arate that is safe for the operator..

A -more complete understanding of the present invention, its mode ofoperation and its advantages maybe gathered by the accompanying drawingsshowing. construction details of a typical apparatus embodying thisinvention and wherein:

FIGURE I is a perspective of one embodiment of an apparatus of theinvention shown in partly expanded v,con-. dition with a flexiblefilm'sleeve in place on the stretching fingers (the sleeve and fingersare. shown in .dotted lines).

FIGURE 2 is'a top plan view of the apparatus showing the slideblock insleeve expanded position with a flexible FIGURE 4 is a partialfragmentary sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGUREsZ.

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view takenalong line ,55

of FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view taken along line. 6-6 of FIGURE 4. 7

FIGURE 7 is a sectional View taken along line 7 7 of numerals designatelike parts, there is shown a preferred i embodiment of the apparatusin apartly expanded position with. a phantom showing of afinger-formed.stretching. passage and a film sleeve partly stretchedthereon. The

apparatus has a head pedestal generally designated as 4 that isrigidlyconnected to a tail pedestal generally designatedas6 by a rigid strutmember comprised of a pair of slide rods 10, 10.

Slide rods-10, 10: are adapted to slidably mount a slide postgenerallydesignated ass8, and concomitantly conjoin head pedestal 4 and tailpedestal 6 in spaced, rigid, surface, I

mounting alignmentthereby providing a portable'selfcontained stretchingdevice that may be readily mounted by bolting or clamping on toindiscriminate work surfaces.-

Slide post -8 is adapted to slide to and from head I 4 pedestal 4 onslide: rods 10, being distally arrested by abutment with 'an adjustablestop 92 fastened in tail pedestal 6;

A foot treadle assembly generally designated as 12 is secured tooneend=of. .a rope :52 depending from-head pedestal 14 and ledgaboutagrooved' sheaves in a tackle arrangement later described, adapted totranslate a vertical force applied by an operators foot ontreadleassernblyi 12 to a horizontal force urging slideipost 8 along.slide rods- 10,:107 distally from head pedestal 4. Upon removal of thevertical force, slide post'8 isreturned to head pedestal 4 byconstant-force spring means later described.

R'efer'now to, FIGURES 2 and :3. A'flexible filmsleeve 13iis shownexpanded 'on azpassage 15 formed by a set of four stretchingfingerssecured on the apparatus of the. invention. i. A lower finger 14andaverticallyr adjustablei upper finger 16 are secured to the: movableslide 'post 8.' A lower finger 14'- and vertically-adjustable upperfinger 16i aresecured to the fixed head pedestal 4. A flexiblefilm'sleeve 13is sheathed onto the stretching passage 15 initszretracted position when slide post 8 {is returned to head pedestal4. The slide =post 8 is moved horizontally, distally by foot treadle 12motion to expand thefinger-x, for-med stretching passage 15 and therebysleeve :13, perw mitting the: :items to be packaged tobe placed in'thepassagewand concomitantly as. the; foot treadle? force, :is; released toremove the film overwrapped items.

Refer'additionally to FIGURES. .4 and 7. The apparatus head jpedestal;4is a metal casting that is provided 1 with a flat bottom mountingsurface 18 and a pair of par-tallel.shoulder bracketslti extended fromits base portion. The shoulder brackets 20 form a socket-with alignedholes '21. that cooperate to pin secure therein a mounting tongue block116integral with fixedqlower. stretching finger 14 f as shown .in FIGURE3. v.Theghead pedestal has .exa 1 tended-from its base a verticallyupright projecting tongue POI'tiOIlQZEhEtVlIlg parallel. slide surfaces23 for mount ing bracket 104' shown' in FIGURE 8; Acored'horizom. i

talpassage '24 is positioned in the baseof :thehead pedestal for.mountingtherein, asalaterndescribed, a grooved wire' rope sheave, aconstant-force: coil spring, and passing therethrough' flexible wire;,rope' means.- The head.pedestal 4 has in its baseportion"symmetrically,.widely spaced about its center line, horizontalparallel bores 26 :and 26 adapted to rigidlysecure, therein one-end(head end) of a rigid strut :comprised of parallel=spaced= slide rods10and 107 secured thereto through .base surface 18 thread-i ably by setscrews'28.

Refer additionally'to FIGURESIZ and 5. The appa-- ratus tail pedestal6118 a meta l casting that is provided witha flat bottom" mountingsurface32janda cored her-- iz'ontal passage 34 for mounting thereimagrooved wire; rope sheave means later described Tail pedestal. 6 has inits base portion,'symmetrically, widely spaced about its center line;horizontal parallel zbores36 and 36'! of the same centerato-centerdistance asabores26 and 26 in head pedestal 4 and adapted to rigidlysecure therein the other end (tail end) of a rigidstrutcomprised ofslide rods 10 and 10 secured thereto through base surfacefilthreadablyby set: screws 38. An elongate stop rod 92 is slideably mountedlinftailpedestal 6 tpar alleljto slide. rods 10 t and 10', and. is providedwith a pluralityiof aligned spacedv dimples 94 thatcooperate with detentplunger 98.- Detent plunger 98 :has a knob 100 and a coil spring: 102arranged to engage and-maintain plunger98' in contact with a dim plei 947 thereby permitting ,easy adjustment of stop rod 92 at one of aplurality of predetermined positions; The motion of slide post 8 :towardtail pedestal 6 is' arrested at a predetermined positiomby engagement ofbase 41 (FIGURES:2,'3) with; cushion=-96=on theiend of stop 10"; theslide .posts motion concomitantly comprises the framing means securinghead pedestal 4 and tail pedestal 6, and provides bearing surfaces forslide post 8 that resist the bending stresses remotely eccentricallyapplied on the apparatus by forces expanding passage 15 and d-istendingthe walls of film sleeve 13.

Refer additionally to FIGURE 6. The apparatus slide post 8 is a metalcasting that is provided with an extended base portion 41. Slide post 8has as an extension of its base portion 41 a pair of parallel shoulderbrackets 46 forming a socket with aligned holes 47 that cooperate to pinsecure therein a mounting tongue block 116 integral with moveable lowerstretching finger 14 as shown in FIGURE 3. Base portion 41 also hasextended therefrom a vertically upright projecting tongue portion 48having parallel slide surfaces 49 similar to head pedestal tongue 22,for mounting upper stretching finger bracket 104; and in the base has amachined horizontal passage 43 for mounting therein as later described,a grooved wire rope sheave. symmetrically, widely spaced about the base41 centerline, are parallel bores 42 and 42' into the ends of which aresecured as by press-fitting, slide rod bushing 44 and 44'. The parallelbores 42, 42' are of the same center-to-center distance as bores 26, 26of head pedestal 4 shown in FIGURE 7, and bores 36, 36' of tail pedestal6 shown in FIGURE 5. Bushings 44, 44 may be bronze, sintered powderedmetal, plastic, ball race, or the like bearing means which provide aminimum of friction to sliding and binding on the struts slide surfacesunder remotely, eccentrically applied stretching forces.

Refer now to FIGURES 8 and 9 that illustrate in exploded perspective,the means for adjustably mounting a typical upper stretching finger 16onto slide surfaces 49 of tongue 48 integral with slide post 8, and atypical upper finger 16 onto slide surf-aces 23 of tongue 22 integralwith head pedestal 4. Bracket 104 has a groove 106 to slidably engageslide surfaces 49 or 23 and has oppositely extending, a pair of parallelshoulder brackets 108 that form a socket with aligned holes 110. Holes110 cooperate to secure therein by pin 118, a bored mounting tongueblock 112 that is integrally welded to typical left hand stretchingfinger 16, or to typical right hand stretching finger 16. A knurledthumb screw 114 is threadably mounted in the wall of bracket 184 tosecure bracket 104 on an edge wall of tongue 48 at a predeterminedposition defining one of the upper limits of the stretching passage. Asimilar bracket 104 is used to secure right hand stretching finger 16 toa predetermined position on tongue portion 22 of head pedestal 4.

Refer to FIGURE 10 wherein is shown a typical lower left hand stretchingfinger 14 with a bored mounting tongue block 116 integrally weldedthereto. The mounting block of finger 14 is secured in the socket formedby brackets 46 of slide post 8, by inserting pin 118through alignedholes 47 and the bore of the mounting block. Similarly, typical lowerright stretching finger 14' is secured into the socket formed bybrackets 20 of head pedestal 4.

Refer now to FIGURES l and 4 wherein is shown at head pedestal 4 aflexible rope 52 such as -inch diameter 7 strand by 7 wire, stainlesssteel wire rope, vertically depending from a sheave 68 mounted toprotrude from the front surface of passage 24. A first end of rope 52 isaffixed to wire rope fitting 74 and thereby secured to rod 76. The lowerend of rod 76 is affixed as by welding to adjustment block 80 that isbored in parallel alignment with rod 76, to slidably receive lowerextension rod 78. Rod 78 is aflixed by a hooked end fastening to a foottreadle 84. Adjustment block 80 has threadably mounted therein a thumbscrew 82, to adjustably engage and secure rod 78 and attached treadle 84thereto at a preferred vertical position such as about 10 to 15 inchesabove the floor.

The second end of wire rope 52 is fastened to tail pedestal 6 by wirerope fitting clevis 54. Clevis 54 is rotatably mounted in passage 34, incommon with grooved tail pedestal sheave 56, on shouldered shaft 60 thatis threadably secured in tail pedestal 6. From clevis 54, rope 52 ispassed into slide post passage 43 and about grooved sheave 62. Sheave 62is rotatably mounted in passage 43 on shouldered shaft 63 that isthreadably secured in the base 41 of slide post 8. From sheave 62, rope52 is returned to tail pedestal 6 and passed about sheave 56 and thencethrough slide post passage 43 to and through head pedestal passage 24 togrooved sheave 68;. Sheave 68 is rotatably mounted protruding from thefront face of passage 24, on shouldered shaft 69 that is threadablysecured in the base portion of head pedestal 4. Rope 52 is passed aboutsheave 68 to connect its first end vertically with foot treadle assembly12.

Rope 52 is maintained in the groove of tail pedestal sheave 56 by curvedsurface guard 58 appropriately extended from the passage rearwardly andfastened to the rear wall of tail pedestal 6. Rope 52 is maintained inthe groove of slide post pulley 62 'by a curved surface guard 64. Guard64 and free end 72 of constant-force tension spring means laterdescribed are fastened in pre-assembly, centrally on to spacer plate 66.In final assembly, on slide post 8, spacer plate 66 that is adapted tospan passage 43, is end secured to base 41 by suitable screw fasteningsnot shown. Spacer plate 66 has a lipped extension 67 that serves as astop to abut the rear surface of head pedestal 4 when slide post 8 isreturned proximally to the head pedestal, thereby arresting slide post 8and spacing the stretching fingers 16, 16 apart in their retractedposition.

A constant-force tension coil spring 78 is rotatably centrally mountedin the rear end of head pedestal passage 24. In one embodiment acommercial constant-force spring of stainless steel, A-inch outsidediameter by inch wide, is used in the apparatus to provide a six-poundforce constantly throughout the length of its uncoiling or coiling. Thefree end 72 of coil spring 70 is centrally fastened to spacer plate 66secured to base 41 of slide post 8, and is tensioned to urge slide post8 proximally toward head pedestal 4 with a constant force of six poundsuntil arrested by stop 67.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGURE 4, the sheaves and rope arerigged on the apparatus pedestals 4 and 6, and the slide post 8, in atackle arrangement that provides a one-to-two mechanical advantage forthe manually applied stretching force. For example, when a force such asabout ten pounds is vertically supplied by the operator onto foottreadle assembly 12, a stretching force of about twenty pounds isprovided between the moveable stretching fingers 14, 16 and stationarystretching fingers 14', 16 to stretch flexible film sleeve 13 to apredetermined perimeter.

In another embodiment contemplated in this invention, the sheaves andrope are rigged on the apparatus in a tackle arrangement to provide aone-to-one ratio between the applied force on foot threadle 84 and thestretching force on the moveable fingers. In such an arrangement, thesecond end of rope 52 is secured to slide post 8 and passed about firstgrooved sheave 56 in tail pedestal 6, and returned through slide postpassage 43 to and through head pedestal passage 24 and about secondgrooved sheave 68 to connect the ropes first end vertically with foottreadle assembly 12.

In FIGURE 11, another embodiment of this invention is illustratedwherein, the sheaves and rope are rigged on the apparatus in a tacklearrangement to provide a one-tothree ratio between the applied force onfoot treadle 84 (FIGURE 1) and the stretching force on the moveablefingers. In the tackle arrangement shown in FIGURE 11, the second end ofrope 52 is secured to slide post 8 and passed to and about first groovedsheave 56 in tail pedestal 6, then returned to and about second groovedsheave 62 in slide post 8, then returned to and about a third groovedsheave 56a independently rotatable and commonly mounted withfirst'sheave 56 :on shaft 60 in tail pedestal 6,.then returned throughslide post passage;43. to and through head pedestal passage 24' to andabout fourth grooved sheave 68 to connect the ropes first end verticallywith foot treadle assembly 12 (FIGURE 1).

The strut members that secure the apparatus pedestals, and slide postpreferably are the parallel'cylindrical members and 10 described supra,howevenother means to accomplish their purpose can be used. For example,a

single member or a plurality of members of similar or differing shapesmay be used. It is obvious that the shape 85 and length to conform tothe bulkedshape of the items'tov be packaged.

The following is an :illustrative example of, a method of packagingpieces of banana fruittinto a durable sleeveand disposition of themembers comprising the struts can be varied provided that the requiredfeatures of the ap--:

paratus functions are met; such as a strut or struts, or a prop or propsof a cross-section and spacing to'provide adequate rigidity to resisttorsional andbending stresses and maintain the head pedestal and tailpedestal in spaced alignment; and to provide bearing surfaces thatpermit the slide postto be readily moveable and positioned for expandingthe finger-formed passage. and-concomitantly re-- sist the reaction ofthe stretching forces imposed on the stretching fingers by the action ofopening a flexible! film bag.

The preferred embodiment provides an adjustable stop rod-92 in tailpedestal6 to abut slide post 8. A prede-- termined adjustment of rod 92when using bags of elastic or shrinkable films, limits the slide postmotion and thereby the perimeter of the. expanded finger-formed passage-15, to a dimension slightly larger than the perimeter of the items to bepackaged. If such limitation on passage 15 expansion is not provided,the operator may through inattention or negligence expandthe sleeve 13to a greater perimeter than desired and split the sleeve. Also, withoutthe use of an abuting stop as a gauge, passage 15 may,

through operator fatigue, not be expanded. sufllciently initially/toinsert the items therein. However, to arrest slide post 8 motion whenusing su-bstantiallyinelastim sleeves, or sleeves and items of varyingsize, it may; be desirable to use the apparatus without stop rod.92forstop means other than a treadle force sufficient to fully open thesleeve.

In another embodiment contemplated in this invention, slide post 8motion may also be limited to provide a desired passage 15 perimeter byadjusting the height of treadle 84 so that it is limited in its downwardmovement by abutting with the floor or a block of proper height.

For portability and ease of operation, it is preferred .to.

use a constant-force tension spring 70 to urge the slide post 8 towardhead pedestal 4 and thereby return the finger-formed passage tocontracted position. However, any force means that provides safeoperation of the C011. tracting finger-formed passage may be used. Forexample, a counterbalance such as a Weight of about4 to: 8 Y

pounds can be rope fastened to the slide post 8; led

througha supplementary sheave in the head pedestal 4 v to dependtherefrom insidea tubular guard member.

In the embodiment shown in FIGURE 3,.the projecting passage 15 is formedof four block-mounted mating 1 fingers. The stationary fingers: 14',16comprise a stationary stretching platen mounted on head pedestal .4.The moveable fingers 14, 16 comprise a moveable stretch:

ing platen mounted on slide post 8. When the slide post 8 is moveddistally from head pedestal 4, the moveable and stationary stretching.platens cooperate to open. a flexible bag sheathed thereon.

In another embodiment contemplated in this invention,

thestationary and moveable stretching platens may each be made as ablock-mounted unit platen comprised of edges and a mounting block. Inyet another embodiment contemplated, the stretching platens may becomprised a metal plate of a width slightly greater than the height ofthe items to be packaged and having :curved side of mating curvedfingers; of similar or dissimilar radii .75

' overwrapped bunch;using the. preferred embodiment 'of the apparatus ofthis invention. Six single bananas are,

assembled curved side down, vinto a compact. bunch of two-layers von ajig having a curvilinear bottom surface of about 3-inch radiusand 4/2-inch width and having eccentrically attached theretoverticalrsidelwalls ofw'about Ahinch widthIand 4-inch height.

Stretching fingers 14, 16"and 14', 16' that are typically made of 16gauge stainless steelplate, l-inch radius=by.

An elastic, :seamless, pl-asticized polyvinyl. chohide film sleeve 13of,5 /2-inch flat width'by .S-inch length, is

sheathed onto the ,contracted finger-formed passage-15f of theapparatus. The passage and sleeve are expanded i within the. elasticlimits of -the film;as.theoperator de-.

presses foot treadle 84.

When the flexible sleeve is5expanded, the bananas are manuallytransported. as a compact:bunch and inserted T into the out-board end ofsleeve 13 with their stalk ends. last, .and thestretching force-on foottreadle 84 isidimin:

ished, tension of coil spring-70 thereby urges slidei post 8 to returnand sleeve 13 ,is released from the'fingers permitting the operator toconcomitantly removethe bananas and enveloping sleeve.

promote ripening. of the fruit. Inthe finger-retracted position afreshsleeve of flexible film is sheathed .onto

thefinger formed passage and the cycle is repeated. As.

the bananas shrink from n'pe ning, 1116;61381110-816676 shrinksthereabout to maintain the durability of :the package- The bag, band orsleeve overwraps can be formed from The. invention; however, is not:restricted to overwraps made from seamless tubing but is seamlesstubing.

equallyapplicable .to overwraps made from film having a longitudinalseamobtained ,by overlapping the films marginal edges, as well asoverwraps made by sealing the edges of two superimposed film layers.

Bag or sleeve .oveiwraps made of films that are non-- elastic, ,elasticor heat-shrinkable;:as well as paper, metallic foils,.and netstructures, unsupported and supported. films, can be opened by theapparatus of .thisinvention:

to readily insert thereinthe items to be packaged.

Examplessof filmsthat can be' used, are: plasticized.

polyvinyl chloride. films; synthetic rubber-films; cellulosic film;polyolefin films such as polyethylene and polypro pylene, and thelike;:and also heat-shrinkable film wherein the product is'looselyenveloped therein :and in-a subsequent step :is subjected to heatthereby to shrink the film snugly about the product items.-

Since it is obviousthat various changes. andmodifica tions may be madein the above description Without departing from the nature ,or spiritthereof, this invention 7 tis not restricted thereto except as set;forth in the :-ap-' pended claims.

Whatis claimed is: V 1. Ina portable packaging apparatus havingstretching platens forming a projecting passage for opening flattenedflexible, film tubing, .the combination rOf:

(a) a head pedestal, apassaged base portion -in-said head pedestal,means in said base portion forsecuring one end .of a strut, and means'on'said head,

pedestal for mountingastretching platen;

(b) a tail pedestal, a passaged base portion in said The elastic filmsleeve shrinksdown about. the bananas leaving open ends to i 9 tailpedestal, and means in said base portion for securing one end of astrut;

(c) a rigid strut member secured to the head pedestal and to the tailpedestal, said strut member having a bearing surface intermediate saidpedestals;

(d) a slide post moveably secured to and adapted to move on the strutmember bearing surface, said slide post having a passaged base portion,and means on said slide post for mounting a stretching platen;

(e) a treadle and cooperating cable and pulley means to move the slidepost on the strut bearing surface to and from the head pedestal.

2. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the strut member is comprised of anelongated stiff prop rigidly terminally secured to said head pedestaland to said tail pedestal, said prop having a plurality of bearingsurfaces; and wherein said slide post is moveably secured to and adaptedto moveably engage an intermediate portion of the length of said propbearing surfaces.

3. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the strut member is comprised of aplurality of parallel substantially stifi elongated props having endportions rigidly secured to said head pedestal and to said tailpedestal, said props each having at least one bearing surface; and saidslide post is moveably secured to and adapted to moveably engage anintermediate portion of the length of each of said props bearingsurfaces.

4. The apparatus in claim *1 wherein the strut is comprised of twoparallel substantially stiff elongated props having terminal portionsrigidly secured to the head pedestal and to the tail pedestal, saidprops each having at least two bearing surfaces; and said slide post ismoveably secured to and adapted to moveably engage an intermediateportion of the length of each of said props bearing surfaces.

5. The apparatus in claim 1 wherein the strut member is comprised of aplurality of elongated cylindrical props having terminal-portionsrigidly secured in parallel relationship to said head pedestal and tosaid tail pedestal; and said slide post is moveably secured to andadapted to moveably engage an intermediate portion of the length of saidprops bearing surfaces.

6. In a portable packaging apparatus having stretching platens forming aprojecting passage for opening flattened flexible film tubing, thecombination of:

(a) a head pedestal having a mounting surface, a passaged base portionin said head pedestal, said base portion being adapted to rigidly securetherein one end of a strut, and a tongue adapted to mount a stretchingplaten;

(b) a tail pedestal having a mounting surface, a passaged base portionin said tail pedestal, said base portion being adapted to rigidly securetherein one end of a strut;

(c) a rigid strut member rigidly terminally secured to the head pedestaland to the tail pedestal, said strut member having a bearing surfaceintermediate said pedestals;

(d) a slide post having a passaged base portion and a tongue adapted tomount a stretching platen, said base portion being slidably secured toand adapted to move on said strut bearing surface;

(e) a treadle and cooperating cable and pulley means remotely applied tourge said slide post to move on said strut member bearing surfacedistally from the head pedestal;

(f) means to arrest the movement of the slide post at a predeterminedposition on said strut member bearing surface;

g) tension means to urge the slide post toward the head pedestal;

(h) stretching platen mounting means adapted to adjustably secure astretching platen to said head pedestal tongue and to secure astretching platen to said slide post tongue.

7. In a packing apparatus adapted for mounting stretching fingers, thecombination of:

(a) a head pedestal having a mounting surface in a base portion, ahorizontal passage in said base portion, a rotatable sheave and aconstant-tension member secured in said passage, said base portionadapted to rigidly secure therein a strut member, and means to securestretching fingers on said head pedestal;

(b) a tail pedestal having a mounting surface in a base portion, ahorizontal passage in said base portion, a rotatable sheave secured insaid passage, said base portion adapted to rigidly secure therein astrut member, a bore in said base portion, and secured in said bore astop rod projecting from the proximal wall of said tail pedestal;

(c) a rigid strut member having parallel bearing surfaces and terminalportions rigidly secured to said head pedestal and to said tailpedestal, said strut member spacing said pedestals apart;

((1) a slide post having a base portion with a horizontal passage, arotatable sheave secured in said passage, one end of saidconstant-tension member secured in said passage, said base portion beingmoveably secured on said struts bearing surfaces, and means to securestretching fingers on said head pedestal.

(e) a treadle secured to .a first terminus of a rope depending from saidhead pedestal sheave, the ropes second terminus secured to said slidepost base por tion, the ropes intermediate length being led through andabout said head pedestal sheave and tail pedestal sheave.

8. In a packaging apparatus having stretching fingers forming aprojecting passage for opening flattened flexible film tubing, thecombination of:

(a) a head pedestal having a mounting surface in a base portion, ahorizontal passage in said base portion, a rotatable sheave and aconstant-tension member secured in said passage, said base portion.adapted to rigidly secure therein a strut member, a socket mounted onsaid base portion, said socket adapted to secure a first stretchingfinger and an extended tongue portion adapted to secure a secondstretching finger;

(b) a tail pedestal having a mounting surface in a base portion, ahorizontal passage in said base portion, a rotatable sheave secured insaid passage, said base portion adapted to rigidly secure therein astrut member, a bore in said base portion, and secured in said bore astop rod projecting from the proximal wall of said tail pedestal;

(c) a rigid strut member having parallel bearing surfaces and terminalportions rigidly secured to said head pedestal and to said tailpedestal, said strut member spacing said pedestals apart;.

(d) a slide post having a base portion with a horizontal passage, arotatable sheave secured in said passage, one end of saidconstant-tension member secured in-said passage, said base portion beingmovably secured on said struts bearing surfaces, a socket mounted onsaid base portion, said socket adapted to secure a third stretchingfinger and an extended tongue portion adapted to secure a fourthstretching finger;

(e) a treadle secured to a first terminus of a rope depending from saidhead pedestal sheave, the ropes second terminus secured to said slidepost base portion, the ropes intermediate length being led through andabout said head pedestal sheave and tail pedestal sheave.

9. The apparatus in claim 8 wherein the strut member is comprised of anelongated stiff prop rigidly terminally secured to said head pedestaland tosaid tail pedestal, said prop having a plurality of bearingsurfaces; and wherein said slide post is moveably secured to and adapted.to moveably engage an intermediateportion of the length of said propbearing surfaces.

The apparatus in claim 8 wherein the strut memher is comprised of aplurality of parallelsubstantially said props bearing surfaces.

11. The apparatus in claim 8 wherein the strut is comprised of twoparallel substantially stifi elongated props having terminal portionsrigidly secured to the head pede'st tal and to the tail pedestal, saidprops each having'at least two bearing sur-faces;-and said slide post ismoveably secured to and adapted to moveably engage an iintermediateportion of the length of eachof said ing surfaces.

12. The apparatus in claim 8 wherein the strut member .is comprised of aplurality of elongated cylindrical props having terminal portionsrigidly secured in parallel props-bearrelationship to said head pedestaland to said tail pedestal;

and said slide post is moveably securedjto and adapted to moveablyengage anintermediate portion of the length of said props bearingsurfaces.

13. In a packaging apparatus having stretching fingers forming aprojecting passage for opening flattened flexible film tubing, thecombination of:

(a) a head pedestal having a base portion withi a flat bottom surface, ahorizontal passage-in said base portion having mounted thereinarotatable sheave and a constant-tension spring member, said base portionadapted to rigidly secure therein arigid strut member, a socketprojecting from said base portion, said socket adapted to secure a firststretching finger and an extended upright tongue portion adapted tosecure a secondstretching finger; (-b) a tail pedestal having a baseportion with a flat bottom surface, a horizontal passage in said baseportionhaving rotatably mounted therein a sheave,

said base portion adapted to rigidlyjsecure therein a rigid strutmember, and a bore spacedfromisaidpassage, and secured in said bore astop rod project-3 ing from the proximal wall of said tail pedestal; (c)a rigid strut member having parallelbearing surfaces and terminalportions rigidly secured-to: said:

head pedestal and to saidtail pedestalspacing said pedestals apart inbottom surface alignment; ((1) a slide post having a base portion withahorizontal passage having rotatablymounted therein a sheave. and securedtherein one end of-said spring member,

said base portion being moveably secured on said struts bearingsurfaces, a socket projecting from said base portion, said socketadapted to secure a third stretchingfinger and an extended uprighttongue por-. tion adapted to secure a fourth stretching finger; (e) atreadle secured to. a first terminus of a rope depending from said headpedestal sheave, ,saidropes second terminus secured to said slide postbase portion, the ropes intermediate length being led through and aboutsaid head pedestal sheave and tail pedestal sheave.

14. In a packaging apparatus ahaving demountable (a) a head pedestalhaving a base portion With aflat bottom surface, a horizontal passage insaid base;

portion having rotatably secured in said passage a sheave, and spacedfromsaid sheave rotatably, se-.

cured in said passage a constant-tension coil spring,

said base portion adapted to rigidly secure therein a' terminal part ofa rigid strut member, a socket proing block and an extended .uprighttongue portion adapted to a'djustablysecure asecond stretching, fingermounting bracket;

(b) a tail pedestal having a base portion'with a flat bottom'surface, ahorizontal passageinisaid base portioni-having rotatablyf securedin saidpassage a sheave, said base portion adapted to rigidly ecure therein aterminal partiof'a rigid strut member," and a;bore spacedfrom saidpassage, said bore having means toslidably adjustably secure therein astop rod projecting from the proximal wall of saidtail pedestal; 1

(c) a rigid strut member comprised of tWo elongated rods havingcylindrical bearing surfaces, said rods having terminal,portion-srigidly secured. to said head pedestal, and to said tailpedestal, isaid' rods spaced in parallel relationship and spacing saidpedestals apart in bottom surface alignment; 7 p

((1) a slide post having abase portion With'a horizontal passage havingrotatably secured in said passage a sheave and spaced from said'sheaveone end of said coil spring secured in'said passage, said base portionbeing moveably secured ,onsaid struts bearing surfaces, a socket'adaptedto demountably secure a third stretching finger mounting block andan-extended uprighttongue-porti'on adapted to adjustably secure a fourthstretching fingenmounting bracket;

(e) a treadle secured to a first terminus of a rope depending from saidhead. pedestal sheave, said ropes second terminus secured to'said slidepost base portion, the ropes intermediatelengthbing led through andabout'said head pedestalsheave and tail pedestal sheaveywhereby tensionin the rope urges the sliderpost distally. from the head 'pedestalalongthe struts bearing surfaces; (f) grooved brackets adapted to securestretching finger mounting blocks thereto and adjustablysecured to saidtongue portions of said head pedestal and ofsaid slide post. 15.,Theaapparatus in claim 14Mwherein theatreadle is secured to a firstterminus ofa ropedepending from said 2 head pedestal sheave,saidropes'second terminus secured a to said vtail pedestal base portion, theropes intermediate length being ledthrough and about said sheave mountedin' said head. pedestal, 'IhBDCfizhOl'lZOIlIElllY through said slidepost passage to and about said' sheave-mountedin said tail pedestalpassage, thence returned to and about,

first terminus of a rope depending from said head pedestal.

sheave, said ropes second terminus secured to said slide post baseportion, the ropes intermediate: length being led through and about saidsheave mounted insaid head pedestal, thence horizontally through saidslide-postpasr sage to and about said first sheave monnted'in said tailpedestal, thence returned to. and: about said sheave mounted in saidslide .post, thence returned to and about said second sheave mounted insaid tail pedestals References Cited by therExamin'er UNIT ED; STATESPATENTS 2,884,328: 4/1959 I Johnson 53-'261 X FRANK E. BAILEY, PrimaryExaminer. P. H. POHL, Assistant Examiner.

"7/1957 i Smith 269- 244 X I

1. IN A PORTABLE PACKAGING APPARATUS HAVING STRETCHING PLATENS FORMING APROJECTING PASSAGE FOR OPENING FLATTENED FLEXIBLE FILM TUBING, THECOMBINATION OF: (A) A HEAD PEDESTAL, A PASSAGED BASE PORTION IN SAIDHEAD PEDESTAL, MEANS IN SAID BASE PORTION FOR SECURING ONE END OF ASTRUT, AND MEANS ON SAID HEAD PEDESTAL FOR MOUNTING A STRETCHING PLATEN;(B) A TAIL PEDESTAL, A PASSAGED BASE PORTION IN SAID TAIL PEDESTAL, ANDMEANS IN SAID BASE PORTION FOR SECURING ONE END OF A STRUT; (C) A RIGIDSTRUT MEMBER SECURED TO THE HEAD PEDESTAL AND TO THE TAIL PEDESTAL, SAIDSTRUT MEMBER HAVING A BEARING SURFACE INTERMEDIATE SAID PEDESTALS; (D) ASLIDE POST MOVEABLY SECURED TO AND ADAPTED TO MOVE ON THE STRUT MEMBERBEARING SURFACE, SAID SLIDE POST HAVING A PASSAGED BASE PORTION, ANDMEANS ON SAID SLIDE POST FOR MOUNTING A STRETCHING PLATEN; (E) A TREADLEAND COOPERATING CABLE AND PULLEY MEANS TO MOVE THE SLIDE POST ON THESTRUT BEARING SURFACE TO AND FROM THE HEAD PEDESTAL.